When you get a new computer, you might wonder what to do with the old one, especially if it works. We work with Connecting For Good in Kansas City to help refurbish and distribute these computers to needy families. However, there are some other uses.

My colleagues at Lifehacker had some interesting ideas. The one I like best is the “guest computer.” When people come over and need to just check email or print a boarding pass, why not have them use that spare computer. After all, hotels have those kinda resources. Just be sure to use it every so often to check to make sure it works and gets security updates.

When it’s finally ready to go out to pasture, don’t just throw it in the trash. Give us a call. Even if it doesn’t work, we can still get it ethically and responsibly recycled. We’ll make sure your private data is erased and the computer ends up in good hands.

Dave Greenbaum aka DoctorDave or incorrectly Dr. Dave does computer repair in Lawrence, KS as well as doing computer repair in Topeka, KS. He's been making "mouse calls" since 1990 and shares his thoughts on various topics here on his blog. If you arrived here directly, make sure to visit the main DoctorDave web site to learn all about Dave and the many services he offers.